Bale can help Wales pull off a ‘Leicester’
Davies: Anything is possible, even a shock Euro triumph
LEICESTER’S title victory combined with Gareth Bale’s presence has inspired Wales to believe they are capable of winning Euro 2016, according to Ben Davies.
The Tottenham left-back is bruised from his club’s collapse in the run-in but takes confidence in his country’s prospects in France, with their odds of emerging triumphant significantly shorter than Leicester’s were initially.
Wales are 80-1 to win the tournament with bookmakers, who famously projected Leicester’s chance of a Premier League title at 5,000-1.
The ability to call on Bale, one of the standout players at the competition, enhances Davies’s belief that Wales can emerge from Group B and progress through the knock-out stages — despite this being their first finals since 1958. They also have Andy King, a Premier League champion.
‘Leicester proved anything is possible,’ said Davies. ‘They came from nowhere and I don’t think anyone gave them a chance. It’s something we can take inspiration from and it is handy to have Andy around who has been there and done it.
‘I’d like to think this is the start of something. We’ve worked hard to get to this situation. There have been some tough times but we’ve stuck together as a group and come through it well.
‘We don’t just want to be the first Wales team to qualify [for 58 years] and that’s it. We’ve got players who at the very top level on a regular basis so nothing should faze us.
‘Of course it’s a massive achievement to get there but we’re not just going to be happy to be there. We’ve got to be proud of what we’ve achieved but there’s no point going and not have a go.
‘Anything is possible with Gareth in the team. Any team in the tournament would be lucky to have him. Hopefully the rest of us can supply him with the chances to show what he can do. That’s the aim throughout the tournament.
‘I don’t think we can afford to think of ourselves as underdogs. People can say what they want and look at it whatever way they like but we are a confident group and we’ll put every effort into doing well.’
Davies, speaking during Wales’ warm weather training camp at Vale Do Lobo in Portugal, said the pain from Tottenham’s slide out of title contention — emphasised by a dramatic 5-1 final day defeat at Newcastle — would provide vital experience for challenges ahead. ‘I texted Andy to say congratulations. He had played his part in winning the Premier League so he deserved it,’ Davies said. ‘It was disappointing but we gave it a good shot and it wasn’t meant to be.
‘I like to think we will be stronger for the experience. It was a great experience and we weren’t a million miles away. If a couple of games had gone differently then maybe we would have been in with a shout but there’s no point looking back. Hopefully we can kick on.
‘I think it can make us stronger. People experience highs and lows in football. Sometimes the lows teach you valuable lessons that hopefully we can learn from. The Champions League next season is huge. We earned the right to be there and it’s exciting times. It’s a big test but we’re looking forward to it. It also means no more Thursday football.’
Davies also thinks Mauricio Pochettino’s lunch date with Sir Alex Ferguson this month was a positive — despite speculation at the time the former Manchester United manager was sounding out the Argentine over a role at Old Trafford.
‘I don’t think anyone worried too much. A few boys cracked jokes but he signed a new contract the next day so all fears were out the way,’ said Davies.